Variable scoop separable fastener



0d;- 29, 1940. MORlN I 2,219,657

VARIABLE SCOO'P SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Dec. 19, 1958 INVENTOR 100/: h. MGR/N BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 29

UNI-TED STATES PATENT o F-ici:

Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Whitehall Patents Corporation, poration of New York Application December 19, 1938, Serial at. 246,003

. 14 Claim's. (Cl. 24 205) I hasbee'n minimized to such degree as-to inter- This invention relates to separable fastener.

stringers employing sliders movable along-the stringers to couple and uncouple the scoops or links thereof. More particularly the invention i relates to the formation of angular scoops; that ,is to say, scoops having mounting end portions extending angularly to the normal transverse plane of the scoops with respect to the fastener stringers so as to provide a larger engaging sur I face of the links upon the stringer tapes while at the same time providing a. fastener wherein the links or scoops of opposed stringers may be more readily coupled one with respect to the other with minimum resistance to closing strain, adapting the same for use on articles subjecting the fastener stringers to separating stress or strain when the stringers are coupled together, and still further in providing what may be termed'a continuous smooth outer surface throughout the length 3 of the coupling -stringers by reason of theoverlapping of the angular mounting. ends with respect tothe links or scoops of opposed stringers. The novel features of the .invention will be best understood from. the following description and 5 annexed drawing, in which several embodiments of the invention are disclosed and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference-characters in each-of the views, and in which: 3 I

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one end portion of a pair of fastener stringers illustrating a slider in section thereon and showing the manner of coupling opposed stringers.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic detail view illustrating 5 the tilting linkage action on respective links in the process of coupling the same together, one

link and part of the slider being shown.

Figs. 3 to 11 inclusive show side and sectional views of parts of two' coupled stringers showing different arrangements and types of links or scoops and combinations thereof within the teachings of the present invention.

In the construction of fastening devices of the type and kind under consideration, it has been 5 the practice to employ a series of coupling links or scoops spaced longitudinally of the stringers and arranged and projecting from the stringer tape edges at right anglesto those edgeswin some instances, the mounting end portions of the links or. scoops have been widened to provide a greater contacting or engaging surface with the stringer tapes. However, in such latter instances, the complete stringer has been material-- ly stiffened by reason of the fact that the dis-- tance between adjacent links on the stringer tape ferewith the otherwise free flexibility of the stringers. 1

Contrary to the conventional practices, it is one ofthe features of my invention to provide 5 on at least one of the stringers employed, links I having normal coupling portions; that is to say, coupling portions arranged at right angles to the edge of the stringer tape with angularly extend: ing mounting ends to provide a greatergripping or engaging surface of the links upon the stringers without sacrificing the clearance between the links or scoops on the tape, and further without increasing the width'of the complete linkage of v the assembled fastener. Further, this angular' l5 arrangement of the mounting end portions of the links or scoops provide a freer coupling action of the'scoopsv of opposed stringers; that is to say, will ofier a minimum resistance to the closing strain, especially when the fastener is .used

upon articles or garments where a stress or strain is normally upon the opposed stringers tending to separate the same, for example, in the application of fasteners of this kind to girdles, corsets and similar garments, or .in certain types and kinds of-luggage, and so forth. Further, it is my purpose to employ links which will present a relatively smooth surface throughout the length thereof; that is to say, in passing a finger of the hand over the outer surface of. the coupling stringers, which result isacc'omplished by the overlapping of the surfaces of opposed links, thus eliminating the conventional break which occurs between conventional rightangle links or scoops.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown at i2 and I3 two stringer tapes, each having similar links or scoops I4 secured -on the edge portions I 5 of said tapes. Each link has the usual male and female coupling end l6 which is arranged at right-angles to the edges of the strips or-tapes l2, l3. Each link it has an angularly extending attaching or mounting end portion l1, which in the structure shown is inclined in a direction away from the coupled ends 18 of the tapes. For simplification in the description herein made, ,the inclination illustrated in Fig. 1 will be said to be upward, whereas inclinations opposed to that shown in this figure, will be said to be downward merely for descriptive purposes, it being understood that fasteners are used in many 5; planes and direction indications here named are solely for illustrative purposes. It is-also well to point out that the-specific illustrations in the several views are simply diagrammatic and are not to'be construed as accurate illustrations of the precise arrangement of the several parts one with respect to the other nor to the structure or manner of constructing the particular links or scoops employed. It is here to be also understood that the links may be formed in any desired manner and of any suitable material. They may be pre-formed and secured to ,the stringer tapes or may be die cast directly thereon as metallic or thermoplastic castings. The a ve explanatory remarks are applicable to the illustrations in all of the figures later specifically described.

The angular arrangement of the mounting ends' I 1 of the'links upon the stringer tapes l2, l3, will provide a greater bearing or engaging surface of the links on said tapes bearing in mind a limited inward arrangement of the links with respect to the edge of the tape. In other words, without increasing the width of the complete linkage of the fastener, a greater contacting area of each link on the stringer is provided.

For illustrative purposes, I have shown at I! in Fig. 1 a diagrammatic sectional view of a slider, the inturned flanges of one wall of the slider being illustrated at 20 and the connecting web between opposed walls of a conventional slider at 21. In Fig. 2 of the drawing a part of one of the flanges 20 of the slider is illustratedin a diagranhnatic relationship to one of the links I to illustrate the movement of each link in the opez'ation of coupling one link with an opposed It may be said that the coupling end l6 swings about an assumed axis I641, note Fig. 2, in moving the link or the mounting end portion I1 thereof between the dotted line and full line positions of said figure; the dotted line position being the approximate position of the-link as it enters the slider, whereas the full line position shows the link inits coupled relationship with the link of an opposed stringer. ,Some of the intermediate stages between the dotted and full line positions shown in Fig. 2 are represented in Fig. 1. In other words, the engaging point of the link with the flange of the slider is higher with respect to a-given point on the coupling end than would be the case in the'conventional t p of straight'link where this engaging point is substantially at the lower edge of the link.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing is shown one of the stringers of the type and kind illustrated in Fig. 1, for example, the stringer 13 having links I4. This stringer is coupled with links 22 of a stringer tape 23 having downwardly extending mounting ends 24 and coupling ends 26 which are similar to the coupling ends [6, thus producing what might be termed a zig-zag eflect across the links of the stringers.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, another tape 23a similar to the tape 23 is incorporated with the tape 23; that is to say, both tapes will have the links 22 provided with the downwardly extending mounting ends 24. In other words, this linkage as seen in Fig. 6 would constitute a reverse of .the linkage as shown in Fig. 1-.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing I have shown a stringer tape similar to that shown in Fig. 1. For illustration, the tape l2 has the links ll with the upwardly directed mounting ends l1 coupled with the links 26 on a tape 21 wherein the mounting end has an upward angular extension 28 at one side of the tape and a downward extension 29 at the oppositeside thereof to form what might'be termed a Y mounting end portion. It will be understood in this connection that the ends 28 on one side of the fastener will all be directed upwardly, the same as the ends l1, whereas on the opposite side of the fastener, the ends 29 will all be in the opposed direction or similar to the extending ends 23. The links 26 also include the straight coupling ends 30 for of the tapes 21 may be coupled together, and'in Fig. 11

of the drawing, one of such tapes is shown at 21 and the other at 21a. In this arrangement the mounting ends 28 of the links 26 on each stringer tape will be upward on one side of the tapes, whereas the mounting ends will be downward on the other side of the tapes.

In 9 an alternative of the structure shown in Fig. 11 is illustrated. In this figure, the links 26 similar to the links show in Figs. 4 and '7 are arranged upon the tape 21, whereas at 21b is shown a stringer tape having links 3| having downwardly extending mounting ends 32 at the outer side of the tape and upwardly extending mounting ends 33 at the inner side thereof, thus producing a duplication of the structure shown in Fig. 3 on one side of the tapes and a reverse thereto on the opposite side of the tapes. Each of the links 26, 3| have the Y mounting end portions as will be apparent. The links 3| also include coupling ends 34 which engage the couplingends 30 of the links 26.

In Fig. 5- of the drawing, I have shown another adaptation of the construction shown in Fig. wherein one of the tapes I2-l3, the tape l2 in the present illustration, has the links I4 thereof coupled with a conventional stringer tape 35, that is to say, a stringer tape having the normal straight links 36 thereon. In other words, the mounting ends 31 of the links extend and are arranged at right-angles to the edge of the tape 35 and in direct alinement with the coupling ends 38 thereof.

As a reversal of the structure shown in Fig. 5, it will appear in Fig. 8 that a stringer 35 having the straight links 36 can also be associated with a stringer similar to the stringer 23a having links 22 with downwardly extending mounting ends 24. v

A still further adaptation of the straight link tape is' illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawing wherein the straight links are coupled with a stringer 21b having links 3| with the downward inclined outer mounting ends 32 and the inner upwardly inclined mountings ends 33. In this connection it will of course be understood that the straight link stringer may also be associated with a stringer as at 21 or 210.

In Fig. 101' the drawing I have shown one of 'the stringers 21 with links 26 thereon havin the upward mounting ends 26 on the outer surface and the downward miounting ends 29 on the inner surface coupled with a stringer 23 having the links 22 thereon. In connection with the illustrations in Figs. 4 and 7, it will be apparent that either'the upwardly inclined links H or the downwardly inclined links 22 may be coupled with any one of the links of the stringer tapes 21, 21a or 21b.

It will be apparent that the coupled stringers as represented in Figs. 1, 6 and 11 may be said to represent a herringbone structure, whereas the structure shown in Figs. 3, 4, '7 and 9 may be said to modify the herringbone structure. Still further, the illustrations, for example, in Figs. 5, 8 and 10 may be said to combine herringbone andstraight ribbed structures. By reason nally of the stringers eliminating the jamming of one link to another as is thecase with the conventional straight link construction, and by maintaining the spacing between the links, the

desired flexibility is provided in each stringer,-

whereas when the stringers are coupled together, more stability is provided throughout the complete coupled fastener.

.tape, or further at 45 to the longitu.-.

In considering each 1ink,'the link may besaid to be composed of an angular body, one endportion forming the coupling end portion having a socket side and a knob side, whereas the other end portion extends substantially at 45 tothe.

socket side of the first named end portion... The angular extending end. portion forming the mountingend of the linkanditheside walls' of. this end portion are substantially parallel to each other,,with the upper and. lower. surfaces of the second" named endportion substantially flush .with the upper. andrlower surfaces of the widest pants of the couplingg'end portion.

It will also be apparent. that in using plastic or thermoplastic links, adjacent links on. each stringer maybe of one color or of a combination of colors, and the. arrangements or comparisons of one stringer with respect to the other may vary to producev various attractive appearances in the resulting fastener in accordancewith the teachings disclosed in my prior applications, Serial No. 131,607, filed March 18, '1937, and Serial 'No. 152,942,, filed July 10, 1937. It will also be understood that in coupling metallic links of any method of construction and attachment, the same will be incorporated on what is termed tinselled stringer tapes in accordance with the teachings in Patent No. 2,063,515 issued December '8, 1936. In other words; the diagrammatic illustrations in the. accompanying drawing aresimple to show the general arrangement of linkage apart from any specific structure of the mounting tapes or in fact the coupling end portions of the links.

v For purposes of description it may be said that the mounting end portions of the links or scoops are disposed at substantially 45 to the edge of the tape, whereas the coupling end portions thereof are substantially at 90 to the edge of .al plane of the link.

It will readily appear thatthe mounting end portions of the respective links, or in other Words, the angularly extending end portions of the links, are substantially of the same width throughout their length, except for the rounding of the free end portions thereof. This maintains the. adjacent edges of they mounting end portions of adjacent links .in parallel relation toeach other providing the desired clearance between adjacent links j I Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A separable fastener of the class described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having thecou pling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right anglesetoethe longitudinal ,1 edge of the tape, and thermounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tapesedge onto said edgezof the tape to extend the mountingaportions oven-a longitudinal area of theedge of the-tape materially greater thani-the width-of the coupling.

portions where they ofxtlielinka,

2:.A separable fastener of. the; class described.

employing stringer tapes having; coupling 3 links spaced longitudinally of..jone.edge-:portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be--coupled and uncoupled, eachlink having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one ofv the stringer tapes having theEcoupling portions thereofeamanged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to-the longitudinal portions where they Join the mounting portions of. the links, the angular; extension of-the link at one. sid'eof the tape: being in an opposed di-- rection: to the angular extension at the opposite; side ofthe. tape forming a substantially Y-shaped.

mounting-end portion for each t 3. A separable fastener of the class described employing-stringer tapes having coupling links. spaced" longitudinally of one edg'e portion of the. stringertapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having, a protruding coupling portion. and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of. thestringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the. tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond; the 'tapeedge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the. links, the other companion stringer tape having angular-links with the mounting end portions thereof extending at an inclination similar to the mounting end portions of the links of the first named stringer tape.

4. A- separable fastener of the class described. employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion 'of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and amounting portion, thelinks of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape niateriaL. ly greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions ofthe links, the other companion stringer tape having angular links with the mounting end portions join the-mounting portions stringer tapes adapted'to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the'tape, themounting portions of 'said links extending angularly from said .coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the links, the other companion stringer tape having angular links with the mounting end portions thereof extending at an inclination similar to the mounting end portions of the links of the first named stringer on one side of thetape andextending in an opposite direction on the other side of the tape. 1 e

6, A separable fastener of the class described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of oneedge portion of the:

stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portionsbeyondthe tape edge. onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal -area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the links, the other companion stringer tape having links mounted thereon similar to the links of the first named tape, and the angular extensions of the mounting ends of the links of both stringer tapes being upward with respect to the coupled ends of said stringer tapes.

7. Aseparable fastener of the class described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes havingthe coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond-the tape edge onto said-edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a'longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of. the links, the other companion stringer tape having links mounted thereon similar to the links of the first named tape, and the angular'extensions of the mounting ends of the links of both stringer tapes being downward with respect to the coupled ends of said stringer tapes.

8. A separable fastener of the class' described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and atsubstantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the links, and the links of the companion stringer tape having mounting portions arranged at right angles to the edge of said stringer tape.

9. A separable fastener of the class described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portionsof the links, the links of the companion stringer tape having mounting, portions arranged at right angles to the edge of said stringer tape, and the inclination of the angular mounting end of thelinks of the first named stringer tape being upward with respect to coupled ends of said stringer tapes.

10. A separable fastener of the class described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and -uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the,mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the links, the links of the companion stringer tape plied, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the links, the angular extension ofthe link at one side of the tape being in an opposed direction to the angular extension at the opposite side of the tape forming a substantially Y-shaped mounting end portion for each link, and the companion stringer tape having links provided with mounting end portions 1 portion and a mounting'portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly 01' and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge of the tape, the mounting portions of said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of the tape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions 01' the links, the angular extension of the link at one side of the tape being in an opposed direction to the angular extension at the opposite side oi the tape forming a substantially Y-shaped mounting'end portion for each link, and the-opposed stringer tape having links with wide mounting end portions like those of the first named tape.

13. A separable fastener 01' the class described employing stringer tapes having coupling links spaced longitudinally of one edge portion of the stringer tapes adapted to be coupled and uncoupled, each link having a protruding coupling portion and a mounting portion, the links of at least one of the stringer tapes having the coupling portions thereof arranged outwardly of and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal edge 01 the tape, the mounting portions oi said links extending angularly from said coupling portions beyond the tape edge onto said edge of the tape to extend the mounting portions over a longitudinal area of the edge of thetape materially greater than the width of the coupling portions where they join the mounting portions of the links, the angular extension of the link at one side of the tape being in an opposed direction to the angular extension at the opposite side of thetape forming a substantially Y-shaped mounting end portion for each link, the opposed stringer tape having links with Y mounting end portions, the angular extensions of the links on one side of both tapes being upward, and the angular extensions of the links on the opposite side of said tapes being downward. v

14. In a separable fastener 01 the character described, a stringer comprising an elongated mounting member, a plurality of links secured to and spaced longitudinally of said member, each link comprising an angular body; one end of which forms a coupling portion disposed outwardly of and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal edge of thetape, the other end of said body comprisingthe mounting end portion and extending at an angle of approximately 45 from said coupling portion beyond the tape edge onto said edge of, the tape to extend over a'longitudinal area of the tape edge materially greater than the thickness oi the coupling-portion of the link where it joins said mounting portion, said coupling portion having a recess at one side and a protruding coupling element on the opposed side thereof, and said angular mounting portion ex tending in the direction of the recessed side of said coupling portion.

LOUIS H, MORIN. 

